Method, apparatus, and system for selecting public land mobile network

ABSTRACT

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a system for selecting a public land mobile network. In an embodiment method an eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB. The eNodeB then determines a target cell of a packet switching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2010/073767, filed on Jun. 10, 2010, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a method, an apparatus, and a systemfor selecting a public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network,PLMN for short).

BACKGROUND

An evolved universal mobile telecommunication system territorial radioaccess network (Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication SystemTerritorial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN for short) and an evolvedpacket core network (Evolved Packet Core Network, EPC for short) form anevolved packet system (Evolved Packet System, EPS for short). Manyservices of operators are run in the 2G/3G circuit switching (CircuitSwitching, CS for short) domain. To reuse the existing CS domainservices in an EPS network, it is proposed to connect to the CS domaincore network through the EPS network so that a user equipment (UserEquipment, UE for short) is able to initiate and receive CS services inthe EPS network and return to the 2G/3G network through the E-UTRAN toperform the CS services. The network architecture and processing methodmay be called circuit switching fallback (CS Fallback, CSFB for short).

During the execution of the CSFB procedure, the UE executes the combinedattach or combined tracking area update procedure in the E-UTRAN toregister with the mobile switching center/visitor location register(Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register, MSC/VLR for short)of CS core network devices from the EPS network. In the process, amobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME for short)selects a proper MSC/VLR. At this time, according to commercial settingsof the operator, the MME may select an MSC/VLR that has a public landmobile network identity (PLMN ID) different from that of the EPS networkto which the UE is attached. Next, the UE executes the CSFB process tofall back to the 2G/3G network and access the PLMN where the MSC/VLR islocated, thereby completing subsequent CS domain services.

One method for executing the CSFB process to fall back to the 2G/3G isas follows: An evolved base station (Evolved NodeB, eNodeB for short)executes a packet switching handover (PS Handover, PS HO for short)procedure to select a proper target 2G/3G cell for the UE to completeCSFB processing, where the cell is marked with a cell identity (CellID), and the cell ID includes information about the PLMN to which thecell belongs, that is, the Cell ID includes the PLMN ID. However, theeNodeB is not able to perceive the PLMN ID of the MSC/VLR selected bythe MME in the combined attach or combined tracking area updateprocedure. At this time, the PLMN ID of the target cell selected by theeNodeB may be different from the PLMN ID of the MSC/VLR selected by theMME so that the handover target 2G/3G cell selected for the UE by theeNodeB may belong to other PLMNs. In this case, when the UE camps to thetarget 2G/3G cell, as the PLMN is changed, the cell is served by anotherMSC/VLR. As a result, the UE needs to register with the new MSC/VLR byexecuting the location area update (Location Area Update, LAU for short)procedure before performing the CS service. In the case of being acalled party/call termination, a roaming retry (Roaming Retry) procedurefurther needs to be executed for this new MSC/VLR and the MSC/VLRpreviously registered by the UE to complete the called procedure. Theadditional location area update and roaming retry procedures increasethe processing delay of the CSFB procedure, and reduces the servicesuccess rate and user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus,and a system for selecting a public land mobile network (Public LandMobile Network, PLMN for short) to avoid an additional processing delayof the CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeB selects a different PLMN forfailing to perceive the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached in the EPSnetwork by the UE in the CSFB procedure, and improve the service successrate.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting apublic land mobile network. An eNodeB acquires PLMN information about aCSFB and determines a target cell of a packet switching handoveraccording to the PLMN information about the CSFB.An embodiment of the present invention further provides an evolved basestation. An acquisition module is configured to acquire PLMN informationabout a CSFB. A determination module is configured to determine a targetcell of a packet switching handover according to the PLMN informationabout the CSFB.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a mobilitymanagement network element, including a providing module that isconfigured to provide PLMN information about a CSFB to an eNodeB so thatthe eNodeB determines a target cell of a packet switching handover.

An embodiment of the present invention still further provides a systemfor selecting a public land mobile network, including a mobilitymanagement network element, configured to provide PLMN information abouta CSFB, and an evolved base station, configured to acquire PLMNinformation about the CSFB and determine a target cell of a packetswitching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

It may be known from the technical solutions that in the embodiments ofthe present invention, an eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB,so that the eNodeB determines a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the acquired PLMN information about the CSFB, andswitches to the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPSnetwork is located, thereby avoiding an additional processing delay ofthe CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeB selects a different PLMN forfailing to perceive the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in theEPS network is located in the CSFB procedure, and improving the servicesuccess rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate the technical solutions according to the embodiments ofthe present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the accompanyingdrawings for describing the embodiments or the prior art are introducedbriefly in the following. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in thefollowing description are only some embodiments of the presentinvention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art can derive otherdrawings from the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an evolved NodeB accordingto Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobility managementnetwork element according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a system for selecting apublic land mobile network according to Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly andcompletely described in the following with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. It is obvious that the embodiments to be described are only apart rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. Allother embodiments obtained by persons skilled in the art based on theembodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fallwithin the protection scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 101: An eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB.

Step 102: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB acquires the PLMN information about theCSFB, so that the eNodeB determines the target cell of the packetswitching handover according to the acquired PLMN information about theCSFB, and switches to the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached in the EPSnetwork by the UE is located, thereby avoiding an additional processingdelay of the CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeB selects a differentPLMN for failing to perceive the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by theUE in the EPS network is located in the CSFB procedure, and improvingthe service success rate.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Thisembodiment is applicable to the scenario where a UE initiates a CSFBcall (that is, CSFB calling) in an EPS network. As shown in FIG. 2, themethod for selecting the public land mobile network according to thisembodiment may include the following steps.

Step 201: The UE sends an extended service request (Extended ServiceRequest) message to an MME, where the message includes a CSFB indicationindicating that the UE intends to execute a CSFB.

Step 202: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (S1-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

The PLMN information about the CSFB in the CSFB procedure refers to theinformation about the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR selected for the UE bythe MME belongs, for example, the PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR belongs. The S1-AP request message sent by the MME tothe eNodeB includes the PLMN information about the CSFB. The specificimplementation may include, but is not limited to, the following modes.

A. The PLMN information about the CSFB is an independent parameter inthe S1-AP request message, which may exist separately, or may also be apart of an existing parameter in the S1-AP request message, for example,may be included in a handover restriction list (Handover RestrictionList) parameter.

B. The PLMN information about the CSFB is indirectly provided to theeNodeB through other parameters. For example, the MME may include alocation area identity (LAI) parameter in the S1-AP request message toreflect the PLMN information. The PLMN ID included in the LAI parameteris the PLMN ID of the CS selected by the MME. The LAI parameter may alsobe included in a handover restriction list (Handover Restriction List)parameter of the S1-AP request message.

C. The PLMN information about the CSFB may be included in an equivalentPLMN (Equivalent PLMN, E-PLMN for short) list. For example, the PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected by the MME is placed as the first inthe equivalent PLMN list, and the eNodeB first chooses to use this PLMN,thereby ensuring that the eNodeB is able to select this PLMN as thetarget network subsequently. An independent indication (for example,selected PLMN for CS) may also be used in the S1-AP request message toindicate that the PLMN information about the CSFB is included in theequivalent PLMN list, or indicate which PLMN in the E-PLMN list is thePLMN of the CS.

In this step, the S1-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a UE context modification request (UE CONTEXT MODIFICATIONREQUEST) message.

Step 203: The eNodeB sends an S1-AP response message to the MME.

Step 204: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB. That is, the eNodeB selects thePLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so as to select a target cell in the correspondingtarget PLMN.

In this step, the eNodeB may determine the target cell of the packetswitching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB inthe following ways.

The eNodeB may select an RNC in the PLMN corresponding to the PLMNinformation about the CSFB as the target of the packet switchinghandover.

Alternatively, the eNodeB may select a cell in the PLMN corresponding tothe PLMN information about the CSFB as the target cell of the packetswitching handover.

In this step, when a target network of the handover is a 3G or UTRAN,the eNodeB includes the PLMN information about the CSFB in a target RNC(radio network controller) identity (Target RNC ID), and specifically,includes the PLMN ID in a LAI parameter of the target RNC ID; when thetarget network of the handover is a 2G or GSM EDGE Radio Access Network(GERAN, where GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications,originally Groupe Special Mobile and EDGE stands for Enhanced Data ratesfor GSM Evolution), the eNodeB includes the PLMN information about theCSFB in a target cell global identification (CGI), and specifically,includes the PLMN ID in a PLMN ID parameter of the target CGI.

Step 203 and step 204 are not subject to an execution sequence.

Step 205: The eNodeB executes the PS HO procedure to migrate the UE tothe 2G/3G network.

Step 206: The UE completes the subsequent CSFB procedure after beingswitched to the target cell, which is not described herein again.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB selects the PLMN corresponding to thePLMN information about the CSFB for the CS domain service as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the 2G/3G network in thetarget PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAU procedure may beavoided, the processing delay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and theservice success rate is improved.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Thisembodiment is applicable to the scenario where a UE receives a CSFB call(that is, CSFB called or CSFB call termination) in an EPS network. Asshown in FIG. 3, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 301: The MSC/VLR receives voice call signaling and sends a pagingmessage to the MME.

Step 302: The MME sends the paging message to the UE.

Step 303: The UE sends an extended service request (Extended ServiceRequest) message to an MME, where the message includes a CSFB indicationindicating that the UE intends to execute a CSFB.

Step 304: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (S1-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

The PLMN information about the CSFB in the CSFB procedure refers to theinformation about the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR selected for the UE bythe MME belongs, for example, PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR belongs. The specific implementation methods forincluding the PLMN information about the CSFB in the S1-AP requestmessage sent by the MME to the eNodeB may be referred to the relevantcontent in step 202 in the previous embodiment, and are not describedherein again.

In this step, the S1-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a UE context modification request (UE CONTEXT MODIFICATIONREQUEST) message.

Step 305: The eNodeB sends an S1-AP response message to the MME.

Step 306: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB, that is, the eNodeB selects thePLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, and thereby selects a target cell in thecorresponding target PLMN.

The specific implementation may be referred to the relevant content instep 204 in the previous embodiment, and is not described herein again.

Step 305 and step 306 are not subject to an execution sequence.

Step 307: The eNodeB executes the PS HO procedure to migrate the UE tothe 2G/3G network.

Step 308: The UE completes the subsequent CSFB procedure after beingswitched to the target cell, which is not described herein again.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB selects the PLMN corresponding to thePLMN information about the CSFB for the CS domain service as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the 2G/3G network in thetarget PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAU procedure and theroaming retry procedure may be avoided, the processing delay of the CSFBprocedure is reduced, and the service success rate is improved.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Differentfrom Embodiment 2 of the present invention and Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention, which are applicable to scenarios where the MMEprovides the PLMN information about the CSFB to the eNodeB in the callprocess (including calling and called), this embodiment is applicable tothe scenario where, after selecting an MSC/VLR in the combined EPS/IMSIattach/combined tracking area update procedure, the MME provides thePLMN information about the CSFB where the selected MSC/VLR is located tothe eNodeB. As shown in FIG. 4, the method for selecting the public landmobile network according to this embodiment may include the followingsteps.

Step 401: The UE sends an attach request (Attach Request)message/tracking area update request (TAU Request) message to the MME,where the attach type in the attach request message indicates that it isa combined attach request (combined EPS/IMSI attach Request) or theupdate type in the tracking area update request indicates that it is acombined tracking area/location area update request (Combined TrackingArea/Location Area Update Request), or combined tracking area/locationarea update with IMSI attach request (combined Tracking Area/LocationArea Update with IMSI attach Request).

Step 402: Execute the combined attach/combined tracking area updateprocedure of the EPS network, for example, a default bearer isestablished in the attach procedure.

Step 403: The MME executes the location update procedure to the MSC/VLRaccording to the attach type indication in the attach request message,and the MSC/VLR executes corresponding CS location update processing,for example, registers the UE with the HLR/HSS.

In this step, the MME selects a proper MSC/VLR according to theinformation such as an operator policy, where, the PLMN (that is, thePLMN for the CS) to which the MSC/VLR selected by the MME belongs may bedifferent from the PLMN to which the MME belongs.

Step 404: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (S1-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

In this step, the S1-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a downlink non access stratum transport (DOWNLINK NAS TRANSPORT)message. The attach accept (Attach Accept) message/TAU accept (TAUAccept) message sent by the MME to the UE may be encapsulated in theS1-AP request message.

The PLMN information about the CSFB is the information about the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR selected by the MME for the UE in step 403 belongs,for example, the PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN to which theMSC/VLR belongs. The specific implementation method for the PLMNinformation about the CSFB in the S1-AP request message may be referredto the relevant content in step 202 in Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, and is not described herein again.

Step 405: The eNodeB sends a radio resource connection (Radio ResourceConnection, RRC for short) request message to the UE, where the RRCmessage may include the attach accept (Attach Accept) message/TAU accept(TAU Accept) message sent by the MME to the UE.

Step 406: The UE sends an RRC acknowledgment completion message to theeNodeB.

Step 407: The eNodeB sends an S1-AP response message to the MME tocomplete the combined EPS/IMSI attach/combined tracking area updateprocedure, which is not described herein.

In this embodiment, the MME provides the PLMN information about the CSFBselected for the CS domain service in the combined attach/combinedtracking area update procedure to the eNodeB, and during the subsequentexecution of the CSFB procedure (for example, CSFB calling or CSFBcalled), the eNodeB may select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMNinformation about the CSFB as the target PLMN of the PS HO, so that theUE migrates to the 2G/3G network in the target PLMN, the triggering ofexecution of the LAU procedure and the roaming retry procedure may beavoided, the processing delay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and theservice success rate is improved.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Differentfrom Embodiment 2 of the present invention and Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention, which are applicable to scenarios where the MMEprovides the PLMN information about the CSFB to the eNodeB in the callprocess (including calling and called), this embodiment is applicable tothe scenario where, before a call, the MME provides the PLMN informationabout the CSFB selected in the service request process to the eNodeB. Asshown in FIG. 5, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 501: The UE sends a service request (Service Request) message tothe MME.

Step 502: The MME sends an S1-AP request message to an eNodeB, where themessage includes PLMN information about the CSFB selected in the CSFBprocedure.

In this step, the S1-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message.

The PLMN information about the CSFB is the information about the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR selected by the MME for the UE belongs in the combinedattach/combined tracking area update procedure, for example, PLMNidentity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR belongs. Thespecific implementation method for the PLMN information about the CSFBin the S1-AP request message may be referred to the relevant content instep 202 in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is not describedherein again.

Step 503: The eNodeB sends an S1-AP response message to the MME tocomplete the service request procedure, which is not described herein.

In this step, the S1-AP response message may specifically be an initialcontext setup complete (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP COMPLETE) message.

In this embodiment, the MME provides the PLMN information about the CSFBselected for the CS domain service to the eNodeB, and subsequently theeNodeB may select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB as the target PLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the2G/3G network in the target PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAUprocedure and the roaming retry procedure may be avoided, the processingdelay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and the service success rate isimproved.

It should be noted that for ease of description, the method embodimentsare expressed as a series of action combinations. However, those skilledin the art should know that, the present invention is not limited to thedescribed action sequences because certain steps according to thepresent invention may be executed in other sequences or at the sametime. Secondly, those skilled in the art should know that, all theembodiments described in the specification are exemplary embodiments,and the involved actions or modules are not necessarily essential in thepresent invention.

In the embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its emphasis.For those parts that are not described in detail in a certainembodiment, refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an evolved base stationaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6,the evolved base station according to this embodiment may include anacquisition module 61 and a determination module 62. The acquisitionmodule 61 acquires PLMN information about the CSFB, and thedetermination module 62 determines a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB acquired bythe acquisition module 61.

The functions of the eNodeB in Embodiment 1 of the present invention,the eNodeB in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the eNodeB inEmbodiment 3 of the present invention, the eNodeB in Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention, and the eNodeB in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the evolved base station provided inthis embodiment.

In this embodiment, the acquisition module acquires the PLMN informationabout the CSFB, and the determination module determines the target cellof the packet switching handover according to the acquired PLMNinformation about the CSFB, so as to switch to the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located, therebyavoiding an additional processing delay of the CSFB procedure causedwhen an eNodeB selects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMNwhere the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located inthe CSFB procedure, and improving the service success rate.

Further, the acquisition module 61 in this embodiment may specificallyacquire the PLMN information about the CSFB through the followingmethods.

A. Receive an S1-AP request message sent by an MME, where the S1-APrequest message includes a PLMN identity.

B. Alternatively, receive an S1-AP request message sent by an MME, wherethe S1-AP request message includes a location area identity, and thelocation area identity includes a PLMN identity.

C. Alternatively, receive an S1-AP request message sent by an MME, wherethe S1-AP request message includes an equivalent PLMN list or theequivalent PLMN list and indication information indicating a selectedPLMN for the CS.

Furthermore, the determination module 62 in this embodiment mayspecifically select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB as the target PLMN of the packet switching handover, and selecta target cell in the corresponding target PLMN, or may further firstselect the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB asthe target PLMN of the packet switching handover, and select a targetcell in the corresponding target PLMN.

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobility managementnetwork element according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 7, the mobility management network element in thisembodiment may include a providing module 71, configured to provide PLMNinformation about a CSFB to an eNodeB so that the eNodeB determines atarget cell of a packet switching handover.

The functions of the MME in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, theMME in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the MME in Embodiment 4 ofthe present invention, and the MME in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the mobility management networkelement provided in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the providing module provides the PLMN informationabout the CSFB to the eNodeB, and the eNodeB determines the target cellof the packet switching handover according to the acquired PLMNinformation about the CSFB, so as to switch to the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located, therebyavoiding an additional processing delay of the CSFB procedure causedwhen an eNodeB selects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMNwhere the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located inthe CSFB procedure, and improving the service success rate.

Furthermore, the providing module 71 in this embodiment may specificallyprovide the PLMN information about the CSFB through the followingmethods.

A. Send an S1-AP request message to the eNodeB, where the S1-AP requestmessage includes a PLMN identity.

B. Alternatively, send an S1-AP request message sent to the eNodeB,where the S1-AP request message includes a location area identity, andthe location area identity includes a PLMN identity.

C. Alternatively, send an S1-AP request message to the eNodeB, where theS1-AP request message includes an equivalent PLMN list or the equivalentPLMN list and indication information that indicates a selected PLMN forthe CS.

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a system for selecting apublic land mobile network according to Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 8, the system for selecting the public landmobile network may include a mobility management network element 81 andan evolved base station 82.

The mobility management network element 81 is configured to provide PLMNinformation about a CSFB.

The evolved base station 82 is configured to acquire PLMN informationabout the CSFB and determine a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

The functions of the eNodeB in Embodiment 1 of the present invention,the eNodeB in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the eNodeB inEmbodiment 3 of the present invention, the eNodeB in Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention, and the eNodeB in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the evolved base station 82 in thesystem for selecting the public land mobile network provided in thisembodiment. The functions of the MME in Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, the MME in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the MME inEmbodiment 4 of the present invention, and the MME in Embodiment 5 ofthe present invention may all be implemented by the mobility managementnetwork element 81 in the system for selecting the public land mobilenetwork provided in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB acquires the PLMN information about theCSFB from the MME, and the eNodeB determines the target cell of thepacket switching handover according to the acquired PLMN informationabout the CSFB, so as to be switched to the PLMN where the MSC/VLRattached by the UE in the EPS network is located, thereby avoiding anadditional processing delay of the CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeBselects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located in the CSFBprocedure, and improving the service success rate.

It needs to be noted that the PLMN information about the CSFB in theembodiments of the present invention may include the followinginformation. For example, the PLMN information might relate to theMSC/VLR selected by the MME during a combined attach process or acombined tracking area update process of the CSFB. Alternatively, or inaddition, the PLMN information might relate to a CS domain selected bythe MME during the combined attach process or a combined tracking areaupdate process of the CSFB.

Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that all or a partof the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware.The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Whenthe program is run, the steps of the method according to the embodimentsof the present invention are performed. The storage medium may be anymedium that is capable of storing program codes, such as a ROM, a RAM, amagnetic disk, and an optical disk.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merelyprovided for describing the technical solutions of the presentinvention, but not intended to limit the present invention. It should beunderstood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that although thepresent invention has been described in detail with reference to theembodiments, modifications can be made to the technical solutionsdescribed in the embodiments, or equivalent replacements can be made tosome technical features in the technical solutions, as long as suchmodifications or replacements do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by an evolvedNodeB to which a user equipment is attached, an S1-AP request messagefrom an mobility management entity (MME), wherein the S1-AP requestmessage comprises a location area identity, and wherein the locationarea identity comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity fora circuit switching (CS) domain for a circuit switching fallback (CSFB)for the user equipment; and in response to receiving the S1-AP requestmessage from the MME, selecting, by the evolved NodeB to which the userequipment is attached, a target cell of a packet switching handover ofthe user equipment according to the PLMN identity for the CS domain,wherein the selected target cell belongs to a PLMN that is identified bythe PLMN identity comprised in the S1-AP request message.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein receiving the S1-AP request messagecomprises receiving an initial context setup request message sent by theMME.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the S1-APrequest message comprises receiving a UE context modification requestmessage sent by the MME.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein atarget network of the packet switching handover is a 3G or universalmobile telecommunication system territorial radio access network(UTRAN).
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a target network ofthe packet switching handover is a 2G or GSM EDGE Radio Access Network(GERAN).
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PLMN identityin the S1-AP request message identifies a mobile switchingcenter/visitor location register (MSC/VLR) selected by the MME during acombined attach process.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein thePLMN identity in the S1-AP request message identifies a CS domainselected by the MME during a combined attach process.
 8. An evolvedNodeB, comprising: a receiver that receives an S1-AP request messagefrom an mobility management entity (MME), and acquires public landmobile network (PLMN) information about a circuit switching fallback(CSFB) for a user equipment that is attached to the evolved NodeBthrough the S1-AP request message, wherein the S1-AP request messagecomprises a location area identity and wherein the location areaidentity comprises a PLMN identity for a circuit switching (CS) domain;and a processor, that, in response to receiving the S1-AP requestmessage from the MME, selects a target cell of a packet switchinghandover for the user equipment according to the PLMN identity for theCS domain, wherein the selected target cell belongs to a PLMN that isidentified by the PLMN identity.
 9. The evolved NodeB according to claim8, wherein a target network of the packet switching handover is a 3G orUTRAN and wherein the processor is configured to determine the PLMNinformation about the CSFB from a target radio network controller (RNC)ID parameter.
 10. The evolved NodeB according to claim 8, wherein thePLMN information about the CSFB comprises PLMN information about amobile switching center/visitor location register (MSC/VLR) selected bythe MME during a combined tracking area update process of the CSFB. 11.The evolved NodeB according to claim 8, wherein the PLMN informationabout the CSFB comprises PLMN information about a CS domain selected bythe MME during a combined tracking area update process of the CSFB. 12.The evolved NodeB according to claim 8, wherein a target network of thepacket switching handover is a 2G or GERAN and wherein the processor isconfigured to determine the PLMN information about the CSFB from atarget cell global identification (CGI) parameter.
 13. The evolved NodeBaccording to claim 8, wherein the S1-AP request message comprises aninitial context setup request message or a UE context modificationrequest message.
 14. An evolved NodeB, comprising: a non-transitorymemory storage comprising instructions; and one or more processors incommunication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the one ormore processors execute the instructions to: receive an S1-AP requestmessage from an mobility management entity (MME), and acquire publicland mobile network (PLMN) information about a circuit switchingfallback (CSFB) for a user equipment that is attached to the evolvedNodeB through the S1-AP request message, wherein the S1-AP requestmessage comprises a location area identity, wherein the location areaidentity comprises a PLMN identity for a circuit switching (CS) domain;and in response to receiving the S1-AP request message from the MME,select a target cell of a packet switching handover of the userequipment according to the PLMN identity for the CS domain, wherein theselected target cell belongs to a PLMN that is identified by the PLMNidentity comprised in the S1-AP request message.
 15. The evolved NodeBaccording to claim 14, wherein the S1-AP request message comprises aninitial context setup request message.
 16. The evolved NodeB accordingto claim 14, wherein the S1-AP request message comprises a UE contextmodification request message.
 17. The evolved NodeB according to claim14, wherein the PLMN information about the CSFB comprises PLMNinformation about a mobile switching center/visitor location register(MSC/VLR) selected by the MME during a combined attach process.
 18. Theevolved NodeB according to claim 14, wherein the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB comprises PLMN information about a CS domain selected by theMME during a combined attach process.